| June 23, 2010 | |
Now that the school year has finally ended, I wanted you all to take a look at your schedules to see when you wish to take your voice lessons next year. I am accepting new students and want to be sure that my current students are able to get their “first choice” for lesson times. It may be impossible for you to know now what the Fall school year will bring, but if you can let me know some kind of time preference, it would help me. I know some of you have already scheduled your spot. Thanks!
I want to encourage you to take advantage of the many events and performances which are being given at Wolf Trap this summer. We are so lucky to have this wonderful theatre in our “back yards!” There are two free vocal recitals ( “Vocal Colors” ) scheduled at 1 p.m. on Thursdays, July 8 and July 22, at the Center for Education at Wolf Trap—next to the Barns. These concerts are given by the singers who make up the Filene Youth Artists. You may also like to see “The Sound of Music” over the Labor Day weekend. I will be bringing my granddaughter to the matinee on Sunday, Sept. 5.
When I am in town, I will be teaching and I hope to see some of you for lessons when you, too, are at home. I leave for California this Thursday and I return on June 29. Lessons will then be given until July 15. I have a very flexible schedule….each week is different, so just let me know if you’d like to study. …I hope to take 10 teens to perform at a retirement home the very last week of August. My vacation schedule is listed on my website.
Have a wonderful and enriching summer! |
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| May 15, 2010 | |
The Teen Recitals are set for next weekend, Sunday, May 23, at 1:30 and at 3:15 p.m. The rehearsals with George Peachey are this Sunday afternoon and then Tuesday evening in my studio. Please be prompt to these practices. I have reserved these times for you! Bring an empty CD disc for recording the session and also be sure to bring your own music, taped and ready for George to use. If you haven’t given me the $35 recital fee, please bring this amount to the rehearsal.
The programs will take place at the Woman’s Club of Arlington, 700 South Buchanan St., Arlington. Click below for a flier for your use in inviting friends and families to these events. Receptions will follow each program and we will honor our graduating high school seniors. I hope you will all be there to support these young people in their musical studies!
I plan to continue teaching for the weeks when I am here in the summer. Please be sure that I know your plans. I will know about my jury duty commitment by next weekend. I will play the recital videotape for you at your next lessons.
During the summer months, I hope many of you can attend programs at Wolf Trap. The Sound of Music will be performed over Labor Day and I plan to attend the Sunday matinee performance! I will also see the opera, Zaide, by Mozart at the Barns on June 15. I would love to see some of my students there! www.wolftrap.org
I will not be home on Sunday morning. If you need to reach me, my cell phone number is: 571-277-2286.
Thank you for all your participation. I am so pleased that almost every teen will sing on the 23rd. You are all welcome to attend both programs! My adult students will perform at the Woman’s Club on June 6 at 7 p.m. Again, you are invited to come to this recital. A special end-of-the-year thank-you to Lori Peterson, designer of my web page. She has done a superb job. |
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| April/May 2010 | |
Our teen end-of-the year recital is in three weeks! We will have two programs: 1:30 P.M. and 3:15 P.M. on SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2010, at the WOMAN’S CLUB OF ARLINGTON. George Peachey will accompany and the rehearsals with him will be held in my studio on either SUNDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 16, starting at 2:00 p.m., OR on Tuesday, May 18, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Please let me know now which date will work best for this 10 minute rehearsal. The fee is $35 to cover the cost of the hall rental and the pianist fee…Thanks for including this with your May tuition. Also I need to know on which program you wish to sing…If everyone signs up for the same time, I will have to ask you to change. I need to balance these programs and I would like to have half the graduating seniors on one program and vice versa. I know you understand the logistics of this request. It will be on a “first requested” first served basis . I plan to keep my spring teaching schedule until June 11—or if you wish to continue all summer, I will be teaching. I will be gone from June 24 to June 29 and some in July.
If the seniors would rather discontinue their lessons after the recital, I will understand…or let’s say until the end of May so you can all see the recital video. There is a possibility that I won’t be able to teach weekday afternoons between May 24 and June 4. I will be “on call” for the Federal Court Jury duty…I will know my commitment on May 21. If you do pay me for the last week in May and I can’t teach, I promise to make this up to each of you sometime in June—at your convenience. When I teach in the summer, my schedule is on a “week-to-week” basis. I will encourage all my undergrads to take a few lessons this summer. We will try to have a nursing home recital at the end of August as we did last summer. I am hoping not to teach on Saturdays next year so if you do study on Saturdays and plan to continue lessons next year, please tell me immediately what other time might work…I will give you all the first choice for the Fall…I will continue to teach Monday nights, and there may be one opening then and on another week night…possibly Wednesdays…but only until 8 p.m. It would be great if everyone could take his lesson right after school…
Another matter! I have lent CD discs to many students throughout the year. If you think you owe me some, I’d love to have you pay me back in kind. I have been very generous…also Xeroxing music…I’d love to get some money for the copies I’ve made…5 cents a page would be fair…The toner to my copier costs $140 to replace…Thanks!
Please invite your friends and families to our recitals. Receptions will follow each program. Also check the webpage to see who has been selected “Student of the Week”, award winning students, etc. I chaired the Northern Music Teachers Assoc. Voice Competition on Saturday and 4 of my students received honors or awards…They are pictured on the webpage…Thank you to Lori Peterson for her excellent work as web page designer. I can’t thank her enough!
It’s been a great year and I wish all the seniors the best of luck next year and continued singing and music making! |
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| April 25, 2010 | |
I am very pleased that so many of you were able to participate in yesterday’s NVMTA competition. I know you all benefitted from singing and from hearing so many outstanding performers. I am so glad that most of you were able to stay for the whole event….I think the comments made by the judges were all excellent and I look forward to reading them to you and to showing you the video that I made…It’s not the best filming since I had to remain so far back.
I know some of you will be disappointed that you didn’t “place” and I don’t blame you…but the most important thing is that you participated! It was a very competitive event. Those of you who aren’t graduating will have another chance next year to participate in this event and in NATS…With each experience, you always improve! I know from my own experience…Click here for the results. You can see that several of my students received “awards”…Congratulations to them! |
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| April 22, 2010 | |
NVMTA Participants:
I am so pleased that so many of you are participating in Saturday’s Voice Competition which is sponsored by the Northern Va. Music Teachers Assoc.
We will begin promptly at 10 A.M. with Division 1---8th, 9th and 10th graders—at the Woman’s Club of Arlington, 700 S. Buchanan, Arlington …for directions, check www.nvmta.org
We plan to begin Division 2—11th and 12th graders at 11:30 p.m. (This time will depend upon the length of the Division 1 portion of the program)
Please wear your “best clothing”…no very short skirts and nice shoes, etc…Appearance matters! Smile, enjoy yourselves…If all goes well, I will make a video of your performance so we can watch it at your next lessons.
At the conclusion of each Division, we will have a ceremony where certificates will be presented and where you can meet the other students and learn from where they come!
You will not begin to sing until the judges indicate they are ready! Don’t be offended if they are writing during your performance. They must if you are to receive any comments.
I will cut you off during your second song, if it doesn’t look as if there’s enough time for your third selection…Everyone has to sing at least part of each song..
You present your adjudication forms and extra copies of your music to the judges before you begin.
I hope this is a great experience for you….If you won any award, I will call you by Sat. night.
I plan to leave my house on Sat. at 9 A.M. If you really need me, my cell phone number is: 571-277-2286….I will not be able to answer during the competition.
Please don’t act as if you know me very well in front of the judges…They shouldn’t know that you are my students.
We’ll hope to take a picture at the conclusion of the program and when the judges are out of the room…or before when they aren’t looking! If a parent can help me do this, I very much appreciate it.
Good Luck to everyone. I am very proud of you all!! |
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| April 4, 2010 | |
I am just back from a great trip to Morocco!
The application deadline for the NVMTA Voice Competition is this Sat., April 10. I would appreciate it if you could all pay me the $25 application fee this week as well as $35 for the pianist fee—which includes the rehearsal on April 16 in my studio and the actual event. If you have to schedule a rehearsal with Ruth at her home, the cost might be more…When you meet with her, you can discuss this…
I am hoping that you all plan to participate…Division I which includes 8th, 9th and 10th graders will begin by 9:30 on April 24. ---not absolutely sure…depends on the number of entrants…Then Division II, which includes High school Juniors and Seniors will begin at approximately 11:30 p.m. You are welcome to invite friends and family to this event…Three prizes will be awarded in each division. In the afternoon, the adults will compete in Division 3. You should plan to stay for one hour…or longer if you can!
The event will be held at the Woman’s Club of Arlington. This is a wonderful opportunity for these young singers to hear students from other studios and also for these students to have another “performance opportunity!” Next week I will be able to give you a better idea of the competition schedule. Each teen will perform three selections in the order we decide.
If you cannot rehearse with Ruth Locker on Friday evening, April 16, please call her to make your own rehearsal arrangements. She lives in Falls Church: Ruth Locker-703-237-7623, e-mail: Ruthl@mrbabshouse.com
I will see you all this week! Practice hard! |
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| March 22, 2010 | |
A reminder that I won’t be teaching between Thursday, March 25 and Sunday, April 4. Lessons will resume on Monday, April 5. Please look at your schedules to see if you will need to miss a lesson in April. I know many of my choral students have festival trips this month and it would be helpful if I knew about them in advance. Thanks!
On March 6 several of my students participated in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Virginia Chapter’s State Audition at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. I am happy to report that: Melissa Murray, Madison High School Junior, received honors in the Advanced Female High School Division; Donya Mossadeghi, Junior at Langley High School, placed Third in the Advanced Female High School Division; Ariana Kruszewski, Sophomore, South Lakes High School, received Third in the Advanced Beginning High School Female Division. It was a very memorable weekend for me. I judged several categories of singers and renewed acquaintances with many Virginia voice teachers. Next year the event will be held the first weekend in March at James Madison University. I do hope many of my students will wish to participate.
Now that the weather is improving, please be careful driving in our neighborhood. As you know, there are often lots of children playing in my cul de sac…The speed limit is 25 mph. Thank you!
On Sunday Afternoon, May 23, I will sponsor two teen student recitals. The first will begin at 1:30 p.m. and the second at 3:15 p.m. I hope that all my students will participate. The fee is $35 to cover the hall rental and the pianist fee. The event will be held at the Woman’s Club of Arlington and hopefully we will have better weather than we did in December! Please invite your friends and families to these recitals. There will be at least two rehearsal times before the concert and your student will sign up for one. These practices will be in my studio and each student will have a specific time slot…I’ll let you know about these dates as soon as I set them with Mr. Peachey. At the recitals we will honor the 11 graduating seniors!
Have a wonderful spring break!
I want to thank Lori Peterson again for her wonderful work designing and maintaining my website. Please check the site to see the recent “Students of the Week!” and other current Studio information. |
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| March 12, 2010 | |
NVMTA Voice Achievements Competition - April 24, 2010
I have spoken to most of you about our NVMTA Voice Achievements Competition on April 24, 2010, at the Woman’s Club of Arlington. The competition will begin at 9 A.M. with the young teens, and then we will hear the Juniors and Seniors. There is also an adult division in the afternoon. You may invite your friends and families to listen. Each teen will have 6 minutes in which to sing most, if not all, of his three selections. Each teen should plan to stay for at least one hour. They will enjoy hearing the other singers perform.
The rehearsals with our pianist, Ruth Locker, will take place in my studio beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 16. If you can’t come then, I will give you Ruth’s phone number and you can make your own arrangements. She lives in Falls Church and is an excellent pianist. 703-237-7623.
The application fee is $25 and then the pianist fee is approximately $32, to cover the performance and the rehearsal. I am encouraging you all to sing…This will be an excellent experience. Please let me know if you do not plan to participate as I am limited in the number of students I can enter. I am only one of at least 9 teachers entering students. Three judges will listen and provide written comments to the students. Please check the web page for more information: www.nvmta.org
I will not teach between March 25 and April 4 so these students must work hard now…Most of them have chosen their three songs…Please let me know if you have any questions!
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| February 23, 2010 | |
FCPS IS CONSIDERING EXTENDING THE SCHOOL DAY
As you know, the Fairfax County Board of Education is considering adding time to the current school day to make up for lost winter instruction days. I have sent a letter to members of the School Board expressing the adverse impact that the adoption of this plan will have upon my students. Briefly, the extension of the school day will mean that I will not be able to provide lessons to some of my current students. If you have a chance to express your views on this proposal, I am sending you the website link. The Board will consider this issue on March 4 so it is important to write to them immediately. In another e-mail, I am sending you a copy of the letter I have sent. < SCHOOL BOARD CONTACT INFO HERE >
Click on this website. I have voted for Option Three to extend the school year by three days: http://commweb.fcps.edu/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=1357. This proposal will affect the schedule of my private school students as well. Thanks for your help!
WORKSHOP NOTES
This Sunday, Feb. 28 is our Spring Student Voice Workshop. We will have two sessions: 1:30 and 3:15 P.M. George Peachey will accompany the students and the fee is $8. I expect every student to attend and at least listen if he/she cannot sing. We will have refreshments after each workshop. The 1:30 event will end at 3 p.m. It will help, if most of the students can get rides to my house. The snow here is still making it difficult for parking. There should be enough parking spaces for those who drive and live a distance from here…We can have three cars in the driveway and at least three parked in the cul de sac. This is an important experience for all my singers! I would appreciate it if the students singing at 1:30 p.m., arrive by 1:25 p.m. and those singing at 3:15 p.m., please come by 3:10 p.m. I have tried to divide the parts evenly! If students arrive after the singing has begun, please enter my house through the back patio doors.
Our spring recital is set for SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2010, in the afternoon at the Woman’s Club of Arlington. I will not teach between March 25 and April 4…Spring Vacation!
Thank you for all the efforts you have made to come to your voice lessons during this winter season. I know it has been difficult driving and parking and I am very grateful to all of you who have made it here under these challenging circumstances. Thank you!
I look forward to hearing you all sing on Sunday! |
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| February 11, 2010 | |
It looks as if the worst is over, we hope! We’ve been shoveling and shoveling and our street has been plowed! So, if any of you want a lesson and can get here, let me know. Please park in the driveway and for now, come through the garage. I hope to get the back steps in good shape…right now they are ice covered.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday students -- please let me know if you can get to your lessons! I would appreciate that … and any of you who missed lessons this week and can make it even this afternoon, tomorrow or Saturday, please let me know.
I am so sorry to hear “District” choir has been cancelled. What a shame! We will still have our student workshop on Sunday, Feb. 28, in the afternoon, so keep practicing and we will hope some of this snow will melt so you can park in the street!
Keep safe! |
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| January 29, 2010 | |
Our student workshop will be held on Sunday, Feb. 28 at either 1:30 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. This event is for the students only and I expect everyone to attend either as an audience member or performer! George Peachey is such a wonderful pianist and this is an excellent opportunity for all my students to experience the joy of singing with a professional pianist in front of a supportive audience. All students will be prepared to sing two songs! Please include the $8 workshop fee in this month’s tuition bill. Also, please tell me at which workshop you wish to perform.
Since the new year, three students have been selected “Student of the Week”—Ashley Fidler, Nancy Pruett, Ashley Hill and this week Jamie Werner deserves the recognition. Please check my webpage for further information.
Victoria Todd will perform in “Little Women” at Madeira School the weekend of Feb. 19 and Michelle Lerch will sing in “West Side Story” at Westfield High School the weekend of February 12. Leila Goldstein and Jamie Richardson are starring in One-Act Plays at McLean High School the weekend of Feb. 5. It’s a busy time of the year!
My former student, David Ruffin, who graduated from McLean High School in 1998 and attended Northwestern University is starring in “Grease” at the National Theatre beginning Feb. 9. I had the pleasure of seeing him perform the role of Kenickie last winter in Baltimore. He has been with the national tour since early December 2008. The show runs from Feb. 9-21. I hope some of you can attend. Also worth seeing this spring are: “Sweeney Todd” at Signature Theatre and “Light in the Piazza” at Arena.
I will not teach Thursday, March 25 through April 4, spring break. If you need to miss a lesson for any reason, please let me know as far in advance as possible. I have a wait list and often can give one of these students a lesson if I know of an opening in advance. I appreciate this. If I don’t receive 24 hours notice for cancellations, you must pay for the lesson. This is only fair!
As the weather begins to warm-up (we hope), please remember to drive carefully in my neighborhood. The speed limit is 25 mph and we have children often playing outside in my cul de sac. Thanks!
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| December 5, 2009 | |
I want you all to know how gratified and pleased I was by your attendance at the teen recitals today. When I decided to “go forward” with the programs, I knew it was risky. I was concerned that somebody might have an accident because of the poor weather…So far, I haven’t heard of any problems and only one student missed the concert because of the weather.
Thank you again and again. I thought all the students did their very best…It was just a wonderful program. I look forward to my continued work with all these singers. Our next event is a student workshop on Sunday afternoon, February 27, 2010…and then the May recital…No weather problems, let’s hope.
I’ll see most of you for one more lesson in December…after December 16. You are all terrific families!
Congratulations to all these young people! |
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| December 4, 2009 | |
SOME LAST-MINUTE REMINDERS ABOUT THE RECITAL!
I will begin both teen programs promptly at the designated starting times. Please be sure you start out early to locate the Woman’s Club of Arlington, 700 South Buchanan, Arlington, Va. 22204. On weekends, there can be heavy traffic on Rt. 66. I will leave my house by 12:30 p.m. If you need to speak to me, please call me early on Saturday. Thanks! If there is an emergency after this time, please call my cell phone: 571-277-2286. I am planning on good weather!
Don’t forget to bring your music!
I want all the performers to sit in the front of the auditorium and move to the back stage as quickly as possible (after the singer before completes his first song). Try to walk as quietly as possible! We must continue the program order as quickly as possible. I expect every singer to stay for the entire program. This is only fair to our last singers and the program shouldn’t last more than 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Happy Holidays! I am so pleased that most of my students are performing on Saturday. I know you will all enjoy hearing these young singers.
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| November 22, 2009 | |
Two weeks from today is the Student Voice Recital, Dec. 5, 2009. I am so pleased that almost all my teens will be performing….15 students in each recital. By now each student knows on which recital he/she will sing and when he/she will attend the rehearsals with Mr. Peachey in my studio. I am attaching a recital flier for your use in finding the Woman’s Club of Arlington and I am also hoping that you will invite lots of friends and family to attend. Receptions will follow both recitals. I have decided to start the second program at 3:15 P.M. – not at the later time. Please plan to arrive at the Woman’s Club l0 minutes before your program is to begin. I want to begin exactly on time!! Also, you are cordially invited to hear both recitals. I know you will enjoy hearing all these young people.
If you haven’t already given me the recital fee of $35, I would appreciate receiving this amount as soon as possible…This money is for the hall rental and the pianist’s fee. Students, please wear appropriate clothing for singing on a stage…no jeans, flip-flops or too short skirts for the ladies. Your appearance is part of the performance!
Also, I hope all of you will stay for the entire program. Each student has worked hard to prepare his music and it is only fair to the last performer that he/she, too, has an audience! The programs should only last approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. There will probably not be an intermission.
I will not teach between Dec. 6 and 16. Lessons will be held, however, from Dec. 16 to 22. I will take another break and resume teaching on Monday, January 4, 2010. I hope to be able to show you the video recording of the recital at the December lesson. Would any parent be willing to video tape the recital? I will have my video camera in place…I just need an operator! I want to be able to focus totally on the young singers.
Each student should bring his/her music to the recital and to the rehearsal. George Peachey will want to play from the music he read at the practice. Also, feel free to bring a CDR disc to the rehearsal so we can make a recording for you…Arrive promptly for your rehearsal …Again, you are welcome to come early and stay late to hear the others practice. Please drive slowly as you come to my house for rehearsals and lessons! Thanks!
We attended the Signature Theatre production of “Show Boat” last weekend and it was most enjoyable…Also The Arena Theatre is presenting “The Fantasticks” over the holiday…Two holiday shows for your families. On December 23 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26, Great Performances presents a film adaptation of Puccini’s “La Bohème.” Some performances worth noting! Happy Thanksgiving! I look forward to seeing you all on Dec. 5…Stay Healthy! |
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| November 1, 2009 | |
Thank you all for your participation in last week’s student workshops. Over twenty teens performed and I was so pleased with all the singing! I hope the students felt it was a worthwhile experience. We now have the Holiday Recital on Saturday Dec. 5, 2009 and there will also be a spring workshop on Sunday, February 28.
Almost all the teens have now chosen their music for the recital and now they should have plenty of time to memorize the pieces. Remember that we will have three possible rehearsals with Mr. Peachey: Sunday afternoon, Nov., 29, Monday evening, Nov. 30, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. as well as Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. I will have the rehearsal sign-up sheets available this week…The time allotted is only 10 minutes so be sure your student is prompt in his arrival. The practice time will be for you in my studio! I would like the $35 recital fee included in your November tuition. This fee will help to pay for the hall rental and for Mr. Peachey’s rehearsal and performance. I will certainly not charge admission for the recital and I encourage you all to invite friends and families. The first performance begins at 1:30 p.m. and the second one either at 3:15 or 3:30 p.m. I need to know on which program your student will sing and obviously everyone cannot sing on the same program!! I hope you will all stay for the receptions which will follow.
I will teach over the Thanksgiving break. Please let me know if you will be in town. I will be available to teach my regular Thursday students on Friday. We will discuss the times!
A reminder—I will teach the first week of December—not on the day of the recital…and then on Dec. 16, 17, 18, 19, 21 and 22. I will show the recital video on these days and assign new music for the break.
I just want to say how much I am looking forward to the Dec. 5 program and hope the students will enjoy performing for their families. If any of the students would prefer not to sing now, I encourage them and you parents to attend the recital anyway. We need an audience and I want the students to see the format for future programs!
Also — check the website. Lori Peterson is doing such a wonderful job as the web page designer. She has included so many items for the site. We have pictures of the workshop attendees and bios and pictures of the current “student of the week” — I am very much pleased with all the information which is contained therein….Please look at it!
One more thing! Langley High Choral Students will not have a conflict on Dec. 5. Their Madrigal Feast is scheduled for the following weekend. I was so relieved to learn this fact!
Happy November! Don’t forget to set your clocks back and please e-mail me or call me about any subjects of concern! |
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| October 23, 2009 | |
The Fall Student Voice Workshop will be held on Sunday, Oct. 25 in my living room with George Peachey, pianist. I would appreciate if all the singers in the first program arrive by 1:20 p.m. The second program begins at 3 p.m. Please arrive by 2: 55 p.m. We will have refreshments after each event so that the students can meet each other. The three o’clock program will finish by 4:25 p.m. If you want me to make a recording of your performance, please bring along a new CD disc….and if you have borrowed some from me these last few weeks, please help replenish my supply. I appreciate this.
If you arrive after a workshop has begun, please come around to the back of my house and enter through the patio doors.
If you haven’t paid me the $8 fee, please bring this to the workshop. I hope you will all enjoy hearing each other! Don’t forget that the Holiday Recital will be on Saturday, Dec. 5.
We have had “Three Students of the Week” thus far: Mary Peterson, Herndon H.S.; Robin Falci, Herndon H.S. and Richard Qin, Thomas Jefferson H.S. I hope all the students will continue to practice diligently every week! |
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| October 10, 2009 | |
Next weekend, Friday, October 16 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, October 18, at 2 p.m., the Virginia Opera will perform La Bohème at George Mason Center for the Arts—on the Fairfax campus, six miles west of Beltway exit 54 at the intersection of Braddock Rd. and Rt. 123. I will be attending this performance on Sunday afternoon and I am encouraging you all to meet me there. You can purchase tickets by checking the website www.gmus.edu/cfa If you have never attended an opera, this is a wonderful experience. I would be happy to drive any teens who might like to go. I know you would all enjoy this opera. The musical Rent is based on this story.
Also, please note that the times for the workshop are 1:30 p.m. and 3:00, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. As of today, it looks as if the participants for each part are evenly divided. Please plan for your student to remain here for 1 hour and 20 minutes. I will serve refreshments and I am hoping that the teens will be able to meet each other before and after the singing! The fee is $8… Thanks!
I haven’t heard from some of you about your intention to attend. I expect each student to participate. If you have questions about the format, let me know. This workshop gives the students a chance to hear each other, listen to new music, and get an opportunity to perform for others. Also they get to sing for me with a professional pianist, George Peachey.
The Holiday Recital is set for SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2009. I rented the Woman’s Club of Arlington auditorium and again, and I expect every student to sing or to attend. I realize the students at Langley High School have a Madrigal Feast that day, but one of our recitals will begin at 1:30 p.m. The second program should begin at approximately 3:15 p.m. You will have plenty of time to arrive in time for your feast. The fee is $35 for our hall rental and pianist’s fee. Participation in this recital is a very important part of your vocal studies. I hope you will invite your friends and families to attend this special event.
George Peachey will be here for rehearsals on Sunday, November 29 (Thanksgiving weekend), Monday Night, November 30, and Wednesday Night, December 2. The students will sign up for a 10 minute private rehearsal time slot. Please look ahead and save time on one of these dates.
Monday students: Remember that I am teaching on the Columbus Day Holiday!
Please e-mail me or call me with any concerns you may have! So far, it’s a great musical year! It would be wonderful if you could attend the opera next weekend. There are tickets priced at $45.
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| October 2, 2009 | |
I have just returned from a wonderful trip to the Amalfi Coast of Italy. We were on a tour sponsored by the U.C. Berkeley Alumni Association and we are so happy we were not driving on own car along these treacherous, steep, narrow hills! Our hotel was located on top of the hillside with views from our balcony of the Mediterranean Sea and all the beautiful buildings, churches, and terraces that are built on these steep inclines. We had wonderful weather…We visited Pompeii, Capri, Paestum, Sorrento, Ravello, etc. I hope you will all have an opportunity to visit this beautiful part of the World!
I am back to teach and hope the beginning of the school year has gone well for every student. Please give me plenty of notice if you REALLY need to cancel a lesson. I will do my best to make up a lesson if I can. My schedule is very tight and your lesson time is for you! Please pay me for a month of lessons in advance, and for Oct. add the $8 workshop fee. The workshop is for students only on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1:30 or 3:15 p.m. Please tell me your preferred time and even if you don’t want to sing or are “a bit under the weather,” plan to attend as an audience member. I will teach on the Columbus Day Holiday. If you are not going to be here, let me know, or if you wish to have your lesson in the morning, we can make that change.
Our holiday recital will be on SATURDAY, DEC. 5. There will be no lessons between Dec. 6 and Tuesday, Dec. 15th. I do plan to teach, however, from Weds., Dec. 16 to Tuesday, Dec. 22…just so you can make your plans. Before the recital, we will have three possible rehearsal times with our pianist George Peachey. I will give you more information next month.
Remember to bring new CDRs to the lesson and some money for Xeroxes. I do appreciate this! Stay healthy and practice! Check the webpage for “The Student of the Week.” |
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| September 14, 2009 | |
Just to remind you all that I am teaching this week. I am hoping that all my teens will have had at least two Fall lessons before my departure and that they will have enough assigned music on which to practice during my absence. If anybody wants another lesson, I have time next Saturday afternoon, Sept. 19, after 3 p.m. - after my normal Saturday teaching schedule.
I hope the Fall school semester is beginning well for each student. This week I will take pictures of my students for the “Student of the Week” file! I am hopeful that every student will deserve this honor at least once this year! Parents, your student may feel more comfortable practicing when nobody is home or in his room. Singing is a very personal experience.
I will resume teaching on Friday, Oct. 3 and our student workshop will be Sunday afternoon, Oct. 25. Two sessions: 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. The cost is $8.00 for the accompanist. |
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| September 6, 2009 | |
I will expect to teach all my teens this week now that Fairfax County Schools are open! I am so happy that many of the teens were able to take lessons in August. Our performance at Sunrise Assisted Living Residence on Sept. 1 was very fine. I was so proud of the ten students who performed!
As you know, I will not be teaching lessons between Sept. 21 and Oct. 3. This means that I will miss two weeks of lessons for some students, but for the Friday and Saturday group, I only miss one. I hope the students will practice hard while I am gone. We have a student workshop set for Sunday, Oct. 25 and I expect every teen to attend either to sing or listen! Also, don’t forget our holiday recital on Saturday, Dec. 5. Parents and friends are cordially invited to attend this event.
Please bring CD-R Audio discs to the lesson. These CDs cannot be reused. You can buy them at COSTCO in packs of 100…
Another reminder! Students, please be punctual in your attendance. You are welcome to walk right into the studio at your lesson time. If you need to use the restroom, please enter a few minutes early. I want you all ready to begin to sing at your proper time! I expect 24 hours notice for any cancellations. These lesson times are saved for YOU.
This year I will again reward a “Student of the Week” based on how hard the student has worked for that particular week. The student will receive a little prize and his picture and a brief bio will appear on the webpage… Thanks to Lori Peterson, the webmaster. I hope you will check the webpage regularly… It contains lots of information and pictures. If you don’t want your student's name or picture to appear on the internet, please let me know immediately. Thanks!
One of my most favorite American classical singers, Dawn Upshaw, will perform at Strathmore Auditorium on Friday Night,
I hope the school year begins on a happy “note” for all of you and I look forward to seeing you this week! |
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| August 28, 2009 | |
The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra is offering 100 free student tickets to elementary, middle and high school students for each of our concerts again this season! We hope that your students and their families will attend an FSO concert this season as we welcome our new Music Director, Christopher Zimmerman. The first performance will be on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts.
After the first 100 tickets are reserved, students may obtain reduced-rate tickets at $15. Accompanying adults receive the special rate of $35 each when attending with a student. Maestro Zimmerman has planned a spectacular opening concert featuring Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro for Strings, and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring! Free student tickets must be reserved by Friday, September 11, by visiting our website: www.fairfaxsymphony.org.
This season, we will invite students who have attended our performances to come to a special open dress rehearsal in March. Click here for the flyer about our free student ticket program for this performance. Please forward this on to students and parents and invite all families to attend Fairfax Symphony performances this season. As we welcome our new Maestro, we look forward to wonderful performances, continued outreach and educational programming, and a commitment to impacting the cultural landscape of the Northern Virginia region. Thank you for forwarding this information and for your support of the FSO!
Best regards,
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra’s 2009-2010 Season Calendar:9/12/2009
10/3/2009 – Jon Manasse, clarinet
11/21/2009 – Chu-Fang Huang, piano
1/23/2010 – Augustin Hadelich, violin
3/13/2010 – Alon Goldstein, piano
5/1/2010 – Julie Albers, cello
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| August 26, 2009 | |
Ten teen students will perform for the residents of Sunrise Assisted Living-McLean on Tuesday, September 1. We will perform in their lovely living room with Gillian Cookson, pianist. The program will begin at 7 p.m., but please arrive by 6:50 p.m. As you give your music to Gillian, be sure she understands if you have any "repeats" or changes in the music. She is a professional pianist with years of experience and I have given her some of your music in advance.
I would like you all to give me $10 to help to pay Gillian's fee. If you need community services points for school, I am happy to write you a note for your school verifying this performance for "community outreach." You will enjoy sharing your talents and personalities with these senior citizens. I hope it will be a meaningful evening for you. Please enjoy yourselves!
The Sunrise Home is located at 8315 Turning Leaf Lane, McLean, 22102…To find directions , Google "Sunrise Assisted Living-McLean," phone 703-734-1600. Turning Leaf Lane is just off Springhill, right near the Dulles access Rd.—Lewinsville leads into Springhill near the Rec. Center at the stop light. Please feel free to call me for better directions, if you need them!
I thank you in advance for your interest in performing. Families, please come to support these young people! |
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| August 7, 2009 | |
I have returned from a wonderful trip to France where I attended the Seventh International Congress of Voice Teachers. I enjoyed attending many interesting sessions about repertoire, vocal technique, languages, interpretation, etc. I especially enjoyed meeting voice teachers from many other countries. Approximately 300 teachers attended and there were over 100 teachers from the United States. I think I was the only teacher from Virginia! View photos here.
And now I am back and setting up my Fall Teaching Schedule. Most of you have already requested lesson time slots. My schedule is almost full so if you have not contacted me and if you don’t have a definite time set for lessons, please call me immediately! If each of you could reply to this e mail, I would appreciate it. I want to be sure that we agree on our schedule. I expect all my students to practice as much as possible this year …. and to record the lessons, and to learn at least 3 or 4 or more songs per month. We will have a student workshop on Sunday, Oct. 25, and our Holiday Recital is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009. The workshop fee is $8 and the recital $35. This helps to pay for our professional pianist and for the hall rental. The Spring Recital will be held on May 23, 2010. Mark your calendars!
I have been teaching almost all summer and some of the teens will present a program on Sept. 1 at the Sunrise Retirement Home at 7 p.m. If any of you are interested in singing, please contact me. The home is located in McLean near the Dulles Toll Rd. I would like as many of the teens as possible to begin lessons the week of August 24. I will not teach between September 22 and Oct. 1 so I am anxious to work with my teens before school begins.
I remind you all to drive very slowly in my neighborhood. The speed limit is 25 miles per hour and as you know, many children live in this cul de sac and in good weather they are often playing in the street.
Fees for lessons this year are: $35 per ½ hour and $45 per 45 minute lesson. I would like to be paid in advance at the beginning of each month and I will send a bill. I do plan to teach the Columbus Day Holiday, Oct. 12. You must give me at least 24 hours notice if you can’t make a lesson. I will try to make up the time, but there is no guarantee that I will be able to do so.
Virginia Opera will present four performances at George Mason University this year. "La Bohème," "The Daughter of the Regiment,""Porgy and Bess," and "Don Giovanni." Tickets are reasonably priced and the performances are excellent. I would hope that some of the teens can attend a performance or two. For more information, visit www.gmu.edu/cfa.
I hope your summers have been restful and meaningful. I look forward to seeing you all soon! |
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